murder 1 of 2

murder

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verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word murder distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of murder are assassinate, dispatch, execute, kill, and slay. While all these words mean "to deprive of life," murder specifically implies stealth and motive and premeditation and therefore full moral responsibility.

convicted of murdering a rival

When could assassinate be used to replace murder?

Although the words assassinate and murder have much in common, assassinate applies to deliberate killing openly or secretly often for political motives.

terrorists assassinated the Senator

When might dispatch be a better fit than murder?

The words dispatch and murder can be used in similar contexts, but dispatch stresses quickness and directness in putting to death.

dispatched the sentry with one bullet

Where would execute be a reasonable alternative to murder?

In some situations, the words execute and murder are roughly equivalent. However, execute stresses putting to death as a legal penalty.

executed by lethal gas

When would kill be a good substitute for murder?

While in some cases nearly identical to murder, kill merely states the fact of death caused by an agency in any manner.

killed in an accident
frost killed the plants

When is it sensible to use slay instead of murder?

While the synonyms slay and murder are close in meaning, slay is a chiefly literary term implying deliberateness and violence but not necessarily motive.

slew thousands of the Philistines

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of murder
Noun
Robbery, rape, kidnapping and murder were frequent. Lauren Vuong, Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2025 Mangione, 26, was hit Thursday with a four-charge indictment, which included two counts of stalking, firearms offense and murder through the use of a firearm. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
The manosphere is mentioned explicitly for only a few minutes in Adolescence, the wildly popular Netflix show about a 13-year-old boy accused of murdering his female classmate, Katie. Paula Mejía, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025 The lower court held that plaintiffs could sue the company over looting during the deportation of 440,000 Jews, most of whom were murdered at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Sarah Federman, The Conversation, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for murder
Recent Examples of Synonyms for murder
Noun
  • Package delivery and unpaid toll texts have taken most of the headlines, but an even worse threat is proving a nightmare for phone users.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Eraserhead Year: 1977 Runtime: 1h 29m Director: David Lynch One of the most polarizing filmmakers of all time made an impact from his debut film, this surreal nightmare that was released in arthouses back in 1977 and was an instant hit in major cities.
    Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This investigation is ongoing; any information regarding the shooting may be shared with Little Rock police homicide detectives at (501) 371-4660.
    Jesse Cain, Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Sheriff’s office homicide detectives have taken over the investigation from Florida City police, Rodriguez said.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Routh has since pleaded not guilty to one count of attempting to assassinate a major presidential candidate and four firearm offenses.
    Jenny Goldsberry, The Washington Examiner, 20 Apr. 2025
  • The health secretary — who was 14 years old when his father was assassinated — has shown an interest in the case for years, doubting the conclusion that Sirhan was responsible for his father's killing.
    Joe Walsh, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The characters in Megan Howell’s short stories, which glide into scenes of magical realism, are lonely people facing the harsh realities of an often violent world and fumbling toward something more hopeful.
    Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Apr. 2025
  • These are both great, morally complex characters with compelling stories and the trailer certainly looks terrific: However much Disney has fumbled the Star Wars IP over the last decade, the animated stuff has mostly been quite good.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Orlov said Ukrainian POWs and civilians are known to be held in harsh conditions, where allegations of abuse and torture are common.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The principle of universal jurisdiction allows for the prosecution of crimes such as genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and torture committed on foreign territory by persons who are not nationals of the jurisdiction in question.
    Dr. Ewelina U. Ochab, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Authorities have alleged that Mangione meticulously planned the slaying of Thompson, who was killed outside a hotel where he was slated to attend an investor meeting that day.
    Faris Tanyos, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Three men are under arrest on murder charges in the November double slaying of a Sacramento man and woman, Sacramento police officials announced Wednesday.
    Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Use logic and math to determine who slays the most orcs and rank them from greatest to least.
    Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
  • To finally slay that demon and experience it with Elliot.
    Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • April 17, 2025 The wind gusts could blow around unsecured objects and a few power outages may occur, the National Weather Service advised.
    Ashley Fredde, Idaho Statesman, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Be careful when handling debris that may have blown into your yard.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 17 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Murder.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/murder. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.

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